August
2004 - Monteverd
After
a rather miserable stint of Summer weather (summer, did someone say summer???),
our DP8 (to coin my guest editor’s lingo) were happy to have an almost perfect
summer evening for swimming – at least, initially.The Monteverds are most gracious hosts (which of course, we have known
all along).Then, as we have become
accustomed to, the skies clouded over and the heavens opened up and it rained,
and it rained, and it rained.What
we thought would be a 5 minute shower lingered into a 20-30 minute downpour.For those brave enough to stay in the pool (yeah for the Debbies!), we
stayed warm and wet under the cover of pool water (which, thanks to Kenny and
what must have been his enormous propane bill that month) that was warmer than
the rain water and the outside temperature while it was raining.The “wimps” who decided they didn’t want to get wet (hello, you
were in the pool!), had the pleasure of being the first to work on Kriss’
great hors d’hoeuvres (crap – I hate that word, from now on it’s just
“appetizers”.At least that I
can spell).While the rain did end,
it left everything outside wet and the air heavy and muggy, so it seemed the
logical choice to move everything indoors, including the dining for the evening.The
Up Side – While we all brought something to contribute to the dinner, the
Monteverds went way out of their way to make this a great meal, from the steaks
that came mail order to the freshly husked corn on the cob to the always
attractive table setting.There was
much eating, imbibing and conversation, and it was all good.We even got to catch up on the latest Olympics coverage.The
Down Side – The rain put a little “damper” (another pun???) on our
enjoyment of the pool and just being outside.But I’ve learned that, as a group, we are resilient and flexible and we
can drink and eat just as easily outside as in.... , and that, as the months (and now years)
go by, we appreciate each other’s friendship more and more (oh dear, I went
from the down side to the good side – editor’s license you know.Anyone who thinks he/she can do a better job, I invite you to jump right
in.The pay sucks but the
“benefits” are great!).